Addressing challenges for GIG interoperability of manned and unmanned platforms

Affordably enabling the benefits of the Global Information Grid (GIG) for enhanced mission capabilities and effectiveness requires key decision coordination in Community of Interest (COI) for Manned and Unmanned Platforms. Network based information sharing requires coordination in data presentation, representation, level of sensor integration, communication link connectivity, and communication link interoperability. Data presentation coordination needs to address operator interface flexibility for Web and third-party applications. Data representation must address the need to share a Common Operational Picture (COP) with both legacy derived data and emerging GIG content in addition to recognizing emerging unmanned standards. Effective use of GIG connected sensors requires proper balance in data exchange of both raw sensor data static and processed track representations. Communication link connectivity considerations need to include transition from point-to-point, to relay, to ad hoc information exchanges. Finally, radio and datalink interoperability needs to be achieved well before the final capability applications are integrated. Lockheed Martin Systems Integration (LMSI) has been engaged in tri-service platform programs exploring the GIG insertion at all of these levels for both manned and unmanned platforms. In this paper, GIG insertion for the Multi-Mission Helicopter (MMH) and its mission partner unmanned vehicles are presented. Incremental insertion of Link 16 and the ship sensor data link have already demonstrated coordinated COI information exchange benefits. From this baseline, future insertion analysis is presented with regard to requirements, interface, and architecture to enable further GIG migration with effective staging.